Indian GP to return in 2016?

The 2016 F1 calendar is already tipped to include 21 races, but Bernie Ecclestone is still holding out hope for a return to India.

India may yet return to the Formula 1 schedule in 2016, with Bernie Ecclestone seemingly willing to revive its existing contract to make it happen.

Hosting its inaugural race in 2011 at the new Buddh International Circuit near Delhi, the Indian Grand Prix lasted just three years before it was struck from the schedule over tax disputes with the local Utter Pradesh government, which changed its designation from 'sport' to 'entertainment', thus making it liable for higher levies.

Nonetheless, though the race removed from both the 2014 and 2015 schedules, India remains a key market for Ecclestone, who says he is simply waiting to hear back from the Jaypee Group for the green light to negotiate a deal.

"I hope we have a race in India next year," he told Press Trust of India. "I am waiting for the promoters to come back to me. We will do whatever is needed to make sure India is back. There are no added challenges to the event. We just need the Jaypee Group to say that 'we are happy to carry on' and we can revive the existing contract."

Ecclestone's comments about India come despite next year's schedule including 21 events as it is with the addition of Azerbaijan and the probable return to Germany, while the desire to shorten the length of the season also raises doubts about where India could fit in.

Ironically, India is one of the races not contracted for 2016 as its current deal runs out this year, but Korea, New Jersey and Azerbaijan have provisional deals in place.